Countdown to Yes – Series Review & Ending Explained

The year is 2015. Wataru and Minato are high school students in the photography club. At a photo exhibition, Wataru sees a picture that catches his eye. Taken by fellow club member Minato, it's a cozy photo of his grandparents. A classmate warns Wataru that Minato is really quiet and never talks to anyone. Wataru still starts a conversation with Minato and compliments his photography skills. Minato suddenly walks away, leaving Wataru confused. But then, Minato comes back with a photo album, happy to show Wataru his full portfolio.

After that first exchange, the two become best friends. They meet up often to take pictures together. Minato is a film camera guy. He grew up watching his grandfather take pictures with vintage cameras. Influenced by his friend's unique style, Wataru switches to using analog cameras too. These cameras become part of their teenage identity and rarely leave their sides. Wataru also brings Minato into his friend group, introducing him to Shioiri, Fujisawa, and Ebina. Minato is shy and takes time to open up, but Wataru always makes sure he feels welcome.

Fast forward to university, and the two decide to become roommates. Living together only brings them closer. Even when Wataru had a girlfriend, Minato still came first. Minato is grateful for their bond and promises they'll stay friends for years to come. But then, it's graduation time. Minato decides to move to Hokkaido for work. They have an emotional farewell and say their goodbyes. Afterward, Wataru sits alone in their empty apartment and cries. He finally admits to himself that he's in love with Minato.

The year is now 2025. Now it's 2025. Wataru has been working as an assistant at a photography studio since graduation. His old friend Shioiri is getting married and wants to get the whole high school gang back together, including Minato. Wataru admits he hasn't really kept in touch with Minato lately. Hokkaido is far away, and the distance made the two best friends drift apart over the years. Shioiri is surprised, given how inseparable they used to be.

One night, Wataru gets an unexpected call from Minato. He wants to meet up. Turns out, Minato is moving back home after getting a job transfer. He has been thriving at his company and working on yogurt products. He was basically promoted to lead a team at the company headquarters. It's a permanent role, which means Minato will be staying around for good. Wataru is excited to have his best friend back in his life.

After his return, Minato has a surprise offer for Wataru. He wants them to cohabitate. Just like the good old days, they can be roommates again. However, Wataru says no. He's scared of his romantic feelings for Minato, and he knows that living together would make his crush so much more unbearable. Poor Minato is confused. He doesn't understand why Wataru would turn him down. When they meet again, Minato is persistent and brings it up again, making it clear how much he wants them to live together. Yet, Wataru still won't say yes to him.

Countdown to Yes is an instant favourite. This has gotta be the most obviously "BL Watcher"-coded drama ever made. Did someone sneak into my brain, take notes, and then spend years in a laboratory building the perfect series just for me? It has almost everything that I typically enjoy in a love story. A friends-to-lovers arc? Yes! An unspoken confession? Yes! Two adorable dorks? Domestic bliss? Robin Furuya? Yes, yes, and yes! Countdown to Yes has found all my soft spots and made its way into my heart.

The first few episodes focus on the characters spending time together, almost confessing their feelings, and then quietly yearning for each other. All the classic friends-to-lovers tropes are there, and I eat every moment up like a starved BL fan. By Episode 3, I was fully invested in this romance. Like, I was ready to write fanfiction about them! Both protagonists also embody my favourite character traits. Minato is socially awkward. Wataru is a neurotic overthinker. Together, these two adorable photography nerds are building a connection in their weird little world. Their endearing personalities make it easy to root for this couple.

Minato and Wataru flutter somewhere between friendship and romance. It's hard to tell the difference because they already act like a couple without making it official. They have such cozy conversations. They do quirky little interactions. And the not-so-subtle flirting? Oh, it's charming as hell. Sometimes, Minato might drop a line like, "Wataru, you're special to me…" and emotionally destroy my heart. I could go on, but the gist is that I totally think they're soulmates. Watching them be lovey-dovey has cleared my skin, watered my crops, and nourished my soul!

The leads work well together, capturing the easygoing rapport between two best friends. Wataru's actor (Kakeru Amemiya) could be a little wobbly in a few scenes, but he's still fun to watch. He's charismatic and exudes natural warmth. His co-star (Kanade Yoshizawa) impresses me with how he conveys subtle emotions through his eyes. Minato is shy and doesn't open up, but the actor can make every glance feel meaningful. Plus, the cinematography is so gorgeous! Each scene is thoughtfully composed, adding a sense of joy and whimsy to this wonderful love story.

Sadly, Countdown to Yes falls into a slump. After such a strong start, the couple's romance doesn't progress. The problem is that Wataru overthinks everything, so he's too scared to date his best friend. There's a slow stretch of episodes as the characters go around in circles and keep repeating themselves. OMFG, I'd like to ban that annoying phrase "Minato is just a friend" from the series forever! I'm sure many BL fans will get fed up with Wataru's hesitation and Minato's passiveness. You two dummies are so clearly in love with each other! Arrrgh, just get together already!!!

Countdown to Yes lost its magic for a while, but the last two episodes won me over again. Once Wataru & Minato sort out their issues, the series is back on track. Oh, this couple is just so precious together! From their cute gestures to their feel-good chats, the lovey-dovey moments remind me of what I enjoyed at the start. Ultimately, I measure Countdown to Yes based on how happy it makes me, and the finale has me smiling ear-to-ear. This cozy BL drama gets a yes from me. Yes to the lovable characters! Yes to the sweet romance! Yes to their happily-ever-after ending!